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Boris Johnson makes important televised address to the nation as alert level raised

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BORIS JOHNSTON made a televised address to the nation.

Downing Street said Mr Johnson would deliver “a recorded statement to provide an update on booster vaccines”.

The address was broadcast at 8pm – key points are below on what the Prime Minister had to say.

The urgent broadcast comes after a rapid rise in the number of cases of the Omicron variant being recorded, which has led to the UK’s Covid alert level being raised to Level 4 from Level 3.

The country’s four chief medical officers and NHS England’s national medical director recommended the change to ministers.

A further 1,239 confirmed cases of the Omicron mutation were recorded in the UK as of Sunday, according to UK Health Security Agency figures.

It brings the total number of UK cases of Omicron to 3,137, a 65 per cent increase from Saturday’s total of 1,898 UK cases.

The key points from Boris Johnson’s address are as follows:

  • “There is a tidal wave of Omicron coming, and I’m afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need,” the Prime Minister said
  • A “national mission unlike anything done before in the vaccination programme” is to be launched to tackle Omicron
  • The target for giving every adult in England a booster jab has been brought forward by a month to before the New Year
  • From Monday in England, the booster is being opened up to every adult over 18 who has had a second dose of the vaccine at least three months ago. The NHS Booking System will be open for these younger age groups from Wednesday.
  • The operation will be assisted by deploying 42 military planning teams across every region, standing up additional vaccine sites and mobile units, extending opening hours so clinics are open 7 days a week, with more appointments early in the morning, in the evening, and at weekends, and training thousands more volunteer vaccinators.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WALES?

New restrictions are likely “in the next few weeks” in Wales to deal with the new Omicron variant, the health minister has said.

Eluned Morgan said the Welsh government wanted “to act proportionately”, but a spike in cases of the variant was expected “quickly.”

She said there would come a point when ministers could advise people against going to Christmas parties.

The Welsh Tories want vaccine boosters ramped up “to a war-like footing”.

Ms Morgan said, with 15 Omicron cases currently identified in Wales, she expected the number to “change very quickly in a very short space of time”.

“We are still learning about this new variant,” she added.

Wales’ coronavirus rules are now being reviewed weekly instead of every three weeks in response to the new variant.

On Saturday, officials at Cardiff and Vale health board “strongly discouraged” going to Christmas parties in light of the variant and “increasing pressures”.

Meanwhile, the Welsh government has urged people to take a lateral flow test before going out.

 

Community

New town map unveiled in Fishguard

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A NEW town map has been installed in the heart of Fishguard to help residents and visitors discover more of what the area has to offer.

The map, created by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick’s in-house graphic designer, has been placed on the Abergwaun Hotel tunnel, near Offshore Surfwear’s new shop.

The group said it was “incredibly proud” of the finished result and thanked the building owner for allowing the map to be installed on the premises.

Visit Fishguard & Goodwick is now hoping to create a similar map for Goodwick and is asking for help from a centrally located building owner who may be willing to host it.

Anyone who can help, or knows of a suitable location, is being asked to get in touch with Visit Fishguard & Goodwick.

 

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Community

Tenby Summer Spectacular cancelled amid council row over harbour access

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Organisers say popular charity events cannot safely go ahead without clear powers to control crowds

TENBY ROUND TABLE has announced that this summer’s Tenby Summer Spectacular events have been cancelled until further notice amid a dispute with Pembrokeshire County Council over crowd control at the harbour.

The events, which were due to take place on Sunday, August 16 and Sunday, August 30, have been a major feature of Tenby’s summer calendar for decades, drawing large crowds to the harbour for entertainment, food, drink and fireworks.

In a statement, Tenby Round Table said the decision had been made “with enormous sadness” and claimed it had been forced on organisers because of unresolved issues over the safe management of pedestrian access.

The organisation said it needed the council’s Public Realm department to use statutory powers to temporarily restrict pedestrian access through the event area when capacity is reached.

Organisers said the matter had first been raised with the council in September 2025 and again formally in writing in May 2026.

They said volunteers had attended meetings, commissioned professional health and safety consultants and worked on Event Management Plans, but claimed the council had still not provided a clear answer.

Tenby Round Table said: “PCC’s Public Realm department has had nine months to answer one question on safe and controlled access to the harbour. It has not done so.”

The group also alleged that recent written responses from the council contained factual inaccuracies and misleading statements about the relevant legislation.

It added that the council’s legal advice was understood to be provisional and still under internal review.

The cancellation is currently described as provisional, with organisers giving the council a final deadline of June 25 to provide what they describe as a clear, accurate and legally grounded answer.

Tenby Round Table said that if this is provided, it will do everything possible to reinstate the events.

The group said the Summer Spectacular had raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities, sports teams, community groups and worthy individuals since it began.

It said the cancellation would be a devastating blow to those who benefit from the funds raised.

The statement added that organisers are still working with Dyfed-Powys Police and other relevant authorities ahead of a council licensing committee meeting in July, which is expected to consider whether the event licence should be renewed, amended or withdrawn.

The Herald has asked Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

 

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Charity

Sea shanties and street food bring crowds to Cardigan RNLI festival

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SUNSHINE, sea shanties and street food helped draw hundreds of visitors to Cardigan RNLI Lifeboat Station on Saturday (Jun 20).

The station’s Sea Shanty and Street Food Festival brought together families, supporters and visitors from across the region for a day of maritime music, food and community spirit.

Traditional sea shanty groups performed throughout the event, with songs echoing around the lifeboat station, while street food vendors served a range of refreshments.

The event also gave visitors the chance to learn more about the lifesaving work carried out by the RNLI and its volunteer crews.

Cardigan RNLI thanked the performers, food vendors, volunteers, sponsors and supporters who helped make the day a success.

Bruce Harris, Launch Authority and event organiser, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come together to support the station, enjoy the entertainment, and celebrate our maritime heritage.

“The atmosphere throughout the day was fantastic, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who attended, performed, volunteered, and contributed to such a memorable event.”

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts.

The charity operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved more than 146,700 lives.

 

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